Widow Of Former Secretary Of State Passed Away At 86
Alma Johnson Powell has died at age 86. She was the wife of the late Secretary of State Colin Powell. It has been reported she died in Alexandria, Virginia following a brief illness. No further details have been provided on her cause of death.
Born Alma Vivian Johnson on October 27, 1937, in Birmingham, Alabama, she had dedicated much of her life to improving the lives of children and families across the United States. Her contributions span various fields, including education, public service, and the arts, making her a respected and influential leader.
Alma Powell’s early life was marked by the challenges and segregation of the Jim Crow South. Despite these obstacles, she pursued her education with determination, graduating from Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, with a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Alma and Colin met each other on a blind date in 1961. Then, Alma married Colin Powell in 1962 who would later become a four-star general in the United States Army and the first African American Secretary of State. Throughout Colin Powell’s career, Alma supported Colin, balancing her role as a military wife with her own professional and philanthropic goals. The couple has three children: Michael, Linda, and Annemarie.
#RIP Alma Powell pic.twitter.com/8E8pa7cC6K
— Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) July 29, 2024
One of Alma Powell’s most important contributions is her work with America’s Promise Alliance, an organization founded by her husband in 1997. America’s Promise Alliance is dedicated to improving the lives of young people by ensuring they have access to the resources they need to succeed.
Under Alma Powell’s leadership, America’s Promise Alliance worked to address the needs of at-risk youth. One such initiative is the GradNation campaign, which seeks to increase the high school graduation rate across the United States. Her efforts have helped bring national attention to the importance of educational equity.
She has served on the boards of several institutions, including the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and YouthBuild USA. Alma Powell is also an accomplished author, having co-written two children’s books with her husband: “My Little Red Wagon” and “America’s Promise.” These books reflected her goals to inspire young readers and foster a love of learning.